Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Punjab Brothers' Three-Crop Model Ends Six Years of Stubble Burning
Sukhpal and Tarsem are two brothers who farm in Punjab.
They grow several different crops instead of relying on only one.
Their farm is about 105 acres in size.
They grow potatoes for Haldiram and other food companies.
For six years, they have not burned the leftover straw from their paddy fields.
Instead, they mix the straw into the soil.
This helps them prepare the land for more crops.
They say their potato harvest and farm income have increased.
They want more subsidized machines so other farmers can manage straw more easily.
Sukhpal and Tarsem Singh Jawandha cultivate about 105 acres in Barnala district.
They grow potatoes, wheat, maize, moong and watermelon through crop diversification.
For six years, they have avoided burning paddy stubble by incorporating it into the soil.
Potato yields reportedly rose from 250–300 bags to 350 bags per acre.
They report annual savings of about Rs 42 lakh after covering expenses.
- Who
- Farmer brothers Sukhpal Singh Jawandha and Tarsem Singh Jawandha, along with Barnala Deputy Commissioner Harpreet Singh.
- What
- The brothers are using a diversified three-crop farming model while managing paddy stubble without burning it.
- When
- They have avoided stubble burning for about six years; they changed from making bales to mulching after 2024.
- Where
- Kothe Surjitpura village in Punjab’s Barnala district.
- Why
- They say the approach improves yields and returns while reducing the harmful effects of stubble burning.
- Farm size
- About 105 acres, including 21 acres owned by the brothers and the remainder leased.
- Main crop
- Potatoes are grown on approximately 80–85 acres.
- Other crops
- Wheat, maize, moong and watermelon are also cultivated.
- Stubble practice
- Paddy residue is incorporated into the soil through mulching instead of being burned.
- Potato yield
- Reportedly increased from 250–300 bags to 350 bags per acre; each bag weighs 50 kg.
- Reported annual savings
- About Rs 40,000 per acre, or approximately Rs 42 lakh annually after expenses.
- Machinery
- The brothers received a subsidized Super Seeder and bought an MB plough and rotavator in 2024.